Alexander davidson



4(No Model.)

A'.'DAVIDS()1\I.- TYPE WRITING'MAGHINB.

No. 487,047. Patented Nov. 29,1892.

Uhrrrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER DAVIDSON, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, .ASSIGNOR TO THE YOST WRITING MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,047, dated November 29, 1892.

Application tiled April 3, 1888. Serial No. 269.445. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, ALEXANDER DAVIDSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have .invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

' My invention relates more particularly to 1o the type movement or action in that class oftype-writers known as bar-machinesthat is tosay, machines in which the type employed are individually mounted upon a series of independent unit-bars, levers, or carr5 riers and which are adapted to be separately and arbitrarily moved to a common printingpoint through suitable mechanism connected with the linger-keys of the machine.

The main objects of my invention are to zo produce a simple, small, cheap, and fast type- Writing machine and one in Which the type shall be self-inking and the alignment of the printing accurate and not liable to become imperfect from wear.` To these main ends and objects my invention consists in the several features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

3o In the drawings which accompany this specification and form a part thereof, Figure 1 is a vertical section of a type-Writing machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view thereof With the carriage center guide and base removed. Fig. 3 is a detail view to more clearly show the type action, and Fig. 4. is a vertical section illustrating a modiiication of my invention.

In the several views the same parts will be 4o found designated by the same letters and numerals of reference.

A represents the base or bed plate of the machine, upon which four posts or pillars B arefsecurcd to properly support the type-ring or top plate C and the other parts to be pres ently referred to.

D represents the paper-carriage, Which may be of any desired construction, and E the paper-platen or impression-roller mounted 5o therein.

f The construction and operation of carriage and platen being Well known and in common use, no detailed description thereof appear to be necessary.

Each type bar or carrier shown in Figs. l,

2, and 3 consists of an arm 2, an arm 3 at an angle thereto, and a slotted cam-like arm 4,

also at an angle to the arm 2, but projecting in a direction opposite to that of the arm 3.

vUpon the arm 3 is`formed or mounted the 6o i printing-type 5. At the junction of the'arms 2 and 4 the type-carrier is pivoted by a pin 6 to the inner end of an actuating-lever 7. To the outer arm, preferably, of said lever is attached a connecting-link 8, Whose lower end is preferably fastened to a key-lever 9, provided at its forward end with a finger-key lO. Upon the bed-plate is secured a center post `ll, which is provided with a chamber 12, that tapers inward at its upper end and 4is there 7o provided with a ring or annular bearing 13 and a series of radial slots or openings 14:. The bifurcated arms or tail-pieces 4 of the type-carriers Work upon this ring and Within these slots, as shown and as hereinafter more fully set forth.

15 represents a fulcruln-ring for all of the actuating-levers 7. This ring is secured in a horizontally-arranged groove formed ina circular plate or lever support 16, that is pro- 8o vided With radial slots 17, within which the levers 7 operate and by the Walls of which said levers are guided and prevented from moving laterally.

In practice I first thread or string the fulcru m-ring l 5 through the eyes or j ournal-bearings of the levers 7 (to the inner-arms of which the type-carriers have been previously attached) and then set said ring Within the horizontal groove, at the same time directing the 9o series of levers Within the radial slots l7 and arranging the bifurcated tail-pieces 4 astraddle the pivotal support or ring 13, all as illustrated; but the levers may be otherwise mount,- ed or arranged.

18 designates a circular inking-pad fitted, preferably, Within the type-ring, top plate, or printing chamber C and surrounding the printing-type. This pad may be made of felt, plush, silk, or other material,and may be suproo plied With ink in any desired manner. In the normal position of the radially-arranged typecarriers the type-.faces rest against the inking-pad.

Upon the top plate or printing-chamber C is secured by means of screws 19 an arm or bracket 20, which extends inwardly and is formed or provided with a type-guide 2l at the center orimpression point of the'machine. This guide preferably consistsof a flaring opening, which is adapted to receive the type and direct them against the impression-surface (the paper upon the platen) in a manner to secure perfect alignment in the printing.

In the operation of the machine the depression of a finger-key will serve to move Athe type with which it is connected from the inking-pad to the impression-surface and effect 'the printing of its-characterthereupon. As therv finger-key is-depressed the inner end of' the" lever 7 is lifted, the type-carrier isivibratedf about? the pivotalisupport 13, andsimultaneouvsly therewith thrown in toward-the center of the machine. The bifurcatedtail-piece4;. being long. and curved somewhatlike a cani-` slot andA moving over the fixed` fulcrumfor support 13 under the iniiuence of' the lever 7, vibrating in a true arc, is gradually turnedy partially around and the type-bearingf arm: made' integral therewith caused*` to travel ini an irregular but predetermined pathfrom `the inking-.pad to the printingfpoint, as shown more particular by the fulland dotted' lines atF-ig. 3. Uponreleasing the fingen-key then partsall return totheir iirst positions, preferably by the actionof a universal" spring,vvv which I do not show; but inv lieu thereof a separate-spring, as 22, maybe arranged' under each key-lever, as in prior machines.

carrier inzitsnormal position and one in its'l printing.v position. The type-face i-nthefor` mer is shown as resting against the infkingpad ter guide and being directed toethe printing.- point.

The machine is-so constructed, itfwill `be un der-stood, that the type-carriers are returned to ytheir normal positions with sufficient` force l to cause the type to strikel perpendicularly against the circular inking-padv andreeeiv-e a= proper supply of ink therefrom.`

In the'modiiication showniatlFig. the typewithin.` the" ink-receptacle will by capillary attraction take) up the ink and feed itoutto those portions of the-pad' against whichl the' ,ofdifferentdiameters, the smaller one being at the top of the support, at which point the latter ismade with a-depression 56, into which the rearmost or uppermost tooth of the rack 1on the type-carrier enters when the type is brought to the printing-point. The type-carrier is pivoted to the inner end of the lever 7 fat 6, and-,when the lever is vibrated upwardly "the carrier is caused to rotate or creep up the rack- 5l and at the same time turn about its `pivotal connection with said lever, as indicated by the dotted-linesatzFifg. 4: Whenthe I. lever. shall havelbeen vibrated tov theproper j-exten'tthe typeface' will have-been turned i1 from itheinkingpad, passedl th roughe-tliec'en ter guide2l, andm'adefa'lr im pressionr upon the papenonthe platen'. force-applied tovibrate the lever the latter will of course descend, and the type-carrier g thenirun down the rack 5l and turn'about'its pivotal` connection with said lever in`-` an opposite-directi'o111-until'the type shall strike perpendicularly against the inking-'pad.. In ;thismodificationl the levers? and." theV typecarriers areall toradiatefromthe centerv piece 5 52 after the manner illustra-ted inv Figsl and 2.- This constructiontshown at Fig. 4r)1will: inotzbe specifically claimed in this case.l Itis incorporatedherewith more especially to show P that thenprinciples involved in. my invention Qare capable of embodiment in machinesdififering somewhat in detail construction.

The illustra-tion atf Fig. l showsone type:-

Upon rel-easing'they Ii have applied my improvement to' many different constructions of machines-and-know i that a great number of changes may be made without departing fromthe spirit thereof.

and in the latter as passing through the cen- -f Although I prefer to'useI a centerguide, (as

j by'whichthe best result maybe obtained)y the same may, however, so far as. some ofmy im.-V s provements aref concerned, be omitted from the machine;

'llhe eircular'inking-padis preferably formed; lof a single length of material,but may be made' up'insection's joined or separated.

rllhe inking-pad may be arrangedeither as shown ati Fig. 1V or Fi'gffb or atany point in f the curve'ldescribedl by the type as it descends from th'e1platen,in'which event, of course, -the 1.type-carriers arev constructed and;A arrangedl j, accordingly.

maybe arranged as shown at 8l in Fig. 4e and- I the normal positions of thetype-carrier and;` i leverf arranged tov be thoserepresentedby the i dottedflinesat said iigure.- To obtain the' best results' infinlringand printing,- the type shouldllervv instance, the' ink-ing-pad strike-at right angles or perpendicularly to ICO the inking-pad and to the paper'orfprinti'ng surface, VafndI havey so'onganized my. machines that this-desiderat'um: is secured; bu-t sofar as other features of my invention arey con'- cerned the inking-pad may be omitted entirely (although I prefer to use it) and' the type arranged to print through an inked ribbon, as inthe well-known machin es at present in use.

The lever 7 and the type-carrier may be actuated by any suitable means. shown only one means; but there are many others which may be employed and which will be readily suggested to the minds of those skilled in the art.

In lieu of the key-levers 9 some other connection between the finger-keys and the connecting-rods may be used-such, for instance, as shown in the application of Frank A. Young, Serial No. 253,523,1"1led October 27, 1887. Instead of vibrating the levers 7 upwardly by pulling down on their outer shorter arms, as shown, this movement may be effected by attaching the connecting-rods in advance of the fulcrum of the levers and pushing the' same up, to do which it is only necessary to change the key-levers from the second order shown to levers of the first order.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen, an hiking-surface, and a series of type-carriers, each of the carriers being adapted to move between the inking-surface and the paper on the platen and impress the type against the inking-surface at the end of its movement in one direction and against the paper at the end of its movement in the other direction.

2. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen, a curved inking-surface, and a series of intermediate type-carriers which travel between the two andv present the type perpendicularly to both.

3. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a platen, au annular stationary inking-surface, and a series of type-carriers Whose type-faces travel first radially from the pad toward the center of the machine and then perpendicularly toward the platen.

4. In a type-writing machine, in combination with a series of type-carriers arranged in a circle, an annular eXteriorly-arranged inl;- ing-surface.

5. In a type-writing machine, in combination with a central type-guide and a circular' inking surface, an intermediately-arranged type-carrier.

6. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a central type-guide, a type-carrier, and an inking-surface exterior to the typecarrier in the normal position of the latter.

7. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a series of actuating-levers, a series of connecting-rods therefor,aseries of type-carriers pivoted each at vthe inner end of one of the said levers, and a pivotal support for one part of each of said type-carriers and arranged within the series of actuating-levers.

8. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a series of actuating-levers, aseries of connecting-rods therefor,a series of type-carriers pivoted one to each of said actuating- I have levers and having each a slotted tail-piece eX- tending radially inward, and a pivotal support arranged within the series of actuatinglevers for said tail-pieces.

9. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a series of radially-arranged actuating-levers and a series of radially-arranged angular type carriers pivotally supported each at one point upon one of said levers and pivotally supported each at anotherpoint independent ot' said lever and nearer the center of the machine, whereby the type is caused to turn and change its direction while being moved to and from the printing-point.

10. In a type-writing machine, in combination with a lever and a type-guide, a type-carrier pivoted to the lever and pivotally supported at a point beyond said lever.

11. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a series of radially-arranged actuating-levers, a series of radially-arranged type-carriers, each of which is pivoted to one of said levers, and means, substantially as described, Within the series of actuating-levers for turning said carriers about their pivotal connections with said levers and for causing the type ends of said carriers to travel iirst radially toward the center of the machine and then axially thereof. y

12. In a type-writing machine, in combination with a central type-guide, a lever and a type-carrier connected to said lever and provided with a pivotally-supported tail-piece or extension projecting in a direction opposite to that of the type.

13. In a type-Writing machine, in combination with an operating-lever, a type-carrier provided with a curved slotted tail-piece and a stationary pivotal support for the latter.

14. In a type-Writing machine, in combination with a series of radiating operating-levers, a series of radiating type-carriers, each of which is pivoted to one of said levers and provided with a pivotally-supported tail-piece or extension projecting in a direction opposite to that of the type.

15. In a type-writing machine,in combination with a series of radiating operating-levers, a series of radiating type-carriers, each of which is pivoted to one of said levers and provided with a tail-piece or extension, and a pivotal circular support or fulcrum-ring, as 13, for the tail-pieces or extensions of said carriers.

16. In a type-writing machine, in combination with a series of radiating operating-levers, a series of radiating type-carriers, each ot which is pivoted to one of said levers and provided with a tail-piece or extension, and a chamber, as 12, provided with a pivotal support or fulcrum-ring, as 13, and with a slotted periphery for the tail-pieces or extensions of said carriers.

17. In a type-writing machine, a top plate or type-ring supporting a series of actuatinglevers and provided with a circular inkingpad and a series of vertically-arranged radiating type-carriers` within said padpi\voted to said actuating-levers to be independently and arbitrarily inoved therefromto the'printing-point.

18. In ay type-WritingA machine, a type-carrier consisting-'of an arm 2,'.a type-bearingV airmfat'right ang-lesitheretdanfd ai slotted port, a vc'on'centric and exteriorlyalrranged iulerurnsfnpportfa series ofV actuating-levers radiatin g' inwardly therefrom, aind'la series` of typemarriers pivotallyconneeted to saidcen-v trally#arranged feiern nrsupport and` toA sai-d series; of-radiallylarran'ged actuating-levers4 211.. Ina' type-'Writing r'nachine", the col'nloji-V nation of aseriesof inwardly-radiating pivoted aotuatingllevers, ai platen above said abovejsaid aotuatfing=levers=a-ndbetweenftliern and the platen,acentrally-arrangedfuloru'mg support, and a` series ofl typecai-riers, eachy connected to thefree end-otono of said-activ ating-levers and to said.fulorum-support;

22: In' al type-'Writing' machine, the' combination', With' an ink.ing-suiiia'ce andai platen abovelthe saine, of an angular type-carrier, an actuat'in'gel'ever` to` which said' type-carrier is pivoted at one point, and av pivotal support for'the type-carrier at anotherpoint', Whereby the. typel is gilvenisnbstantiallyfa-qua'rter-tulrn asi it is' 1`noved rointhe inking-snrface tothe platen?.-

In`4 al type-Writing machine, the combinat-ion of a platen,a tubular in'king-'padarl rangedbeneath theV platenf,rthe axis ofsaid pad being` iin line with the printinfglpointya series of. radially-arrangedtypecarriers, and two series-fof pivotal points for said carriers beneath said inking-padf, the type normally resting; around'theinner surface of saidtubularpad and i'nmoving to print' first travel'- ing radially inward and thenl axially to the platen.

24. Ina type-W'ritinfgl Inachineyaivertically` arranged nvpemarrieradapted toY move radially inward and then axially, substantially as shown,v and tochange-fthepathot the type- "positions and adapted each to move'A radially .inward and then tothe printing-point along an" axial* line common to4 allot said carriers.

26; InV a' type-writing' machine, theooinbination ofV a type-ringga s'eriesf'of actuating'-y levers'fdepend'ing t'herefromya circular inking-'pa'd upon-said type-ring,a"ndi aseifiesof vertical-flyiarrangled typeecarriers jointed 'to g saidi actuatingt-leversfand piivotallyf supported`l independent of said' levers andL arranged so `versandtyperingY and against the hiking-v `pad supported thereby. actuating-levers, a-l circular inkingfs-nrrl'faee n 2?. Ifn a@ type-writing machineth'e combination of a'- p'laiten and series'cfv vertically-4 arran'g'ed type-'carriers having. radially-ar; ranged tfype=arms adapted' eaehrtomove Ifrst in substantially a# horizontal' directionv to a point opposite the' impression-surface and thenin a direction substantial-'ly atfrifgfht an `gies to its first' pathv and perpendicular-'to the impression-surface.

28. In a' type-writing machineythe combination of an" actuating-lever, a type-carrier pivotedfbetween its ends tosai'd lever and pivotally supported at another pointonftheopposite side of the arcof vibration-of the Vpivot connecting the type=carrier a-ndact uatingfle ver, whereby the typecarrier is turned about its: pivotal' connection with thel actuating=le ver duri-ng and by' thevibra-tionof` saidlever and thetype-face reversed or inverted'.

Signed' at New York city, inthe county' of New York anol'Stateo New York, this 16th day of March, A.Df. 1888.

ALEX. DAVIDSON.

Witnesses:

M. LAYDEN, JACOB lnnisrnn.I 

